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One Bread, One Body - Reflection for February 20, 2012

"DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE"

"Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: 'Get out of him and never enter him again!' " –Mark 9:25

There are many shocking implications of today's Gospel:

  1. A demon can possess a child.
  2. A demon can live in a person for years.
  3. A demon can re-enter a person if not forbidden to do so.
  4. A demon can resist the attempts of Jesus' disciples to expel it by exploiting our lack of faith and prayer.

Clearly demons are nothing to be trifled with. A demon even temporarily made Jesus appear a failure when it seemingly killed the boy Jesus had tried to free (Mk 9:26). Undeterred, Jesus took the boy by the hand and helped him to his feet. The demon had not killed the boy, and Jesus was definitely victorious.

Therefore, although we acknowledge the power of Satan and his demons, the One in us is stronger than the one in the world (1 Jn 4:4). We can attack the gates of hell, and they cannot prevail against us (Mt 16:18). We can disarm and despoil Satan (Lk 11:22). We can bring down his strongholds, sophistries, and proud pretensions (2 Cor 10:4-5).

In Jesus, we have the authority and power to make a public show of Satan and lead him off captive (Col 2:15). Obey Jesus, and allow Him to "quickly crush Satan under your feet" (Rm 16:20).

PRAYER: Father, may I fully use my authority over Satan.
PROMISE: "If one of you is wise and understanding, let him show this in practice through a humility filled with good sense." –Jas 3:13
PRAISE: Anna frequently prays the St. Michael prayer before her older children go out for the evening.

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Acknowledgement

Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:

· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College